Today is Palm Sunday. This day commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem while riding a donkey.
Eastern tradition says a king riding on a donkey comes in peace and a king riding on a horse comes for war. Jesus riding a donkey symbolized his coming in peace.
Today is the beginning of Holy Week.
The Colorado Traveling Ducks wish you a good Palm Sunday and a meaningful Holy Week.
Pounding waves, sea spray and wind dominate the north shore of Aruba. The crashing surf erodes some rock and centuries later natural bridge was formed.
Natural Bridge of Aruba area
The relentless pounding continued and natural bridge collapsed in September 2005, fortunately during the night. The pounding and force continue and Baby Bridge is forming, beautiful in its own right.
We ducks and our humans love the water and are in awe of the power and beautiful sea spray. Baby Bridge is beautiful,
Baby Bridge
but we spent much of our time watching crashing waves.
Crashing waves at Natural Bridge and more tourists
Crashing waves
There is a refreshment area and a nice gift shop. Also, a clean restroom is available for $1.00. They must pay for water to be brought here. There is no admittance fee to Natural Bridge. We liked natural bridge area.
Approaching Natural Bridge from Alto Vista Chapel, our guide showed us an inlet where local residents had fed sharks.
Former shark area
They are not allowed to do that now, so we did not see sharks here.
Continuing our tour, Ayo Rock Formations were next.
Ayo Rock Formation
The Arawak, Aruba’s early residents, considered this a sacred place.
Cave drawings at Ayo Rock
We saw these drawings in a cave. These boulders are huge and their placement a mystery.
Bars in front of cave to protect drawings
Ayo Rocks are home to several whip-tailed lizards.
Whip tail lizard at Ayo Rock
The males are cobalt blue and the females blue gray with light blue dots. Very colorful and very fast.
Continuing to Savaneta on the calmer coast, lunch was provided at La Granja Peruvian Restaurant.
Lunch here. Chicken, ribs and rice.
Chicken, ribs, rice and a drink. Very tasty and the service was fast and friendly. We would definitely go back. Soapy’s mom got a little crazy and put us here.
How small we feel
We really feel small.
Another stop was swimming at Baby Beach. Very nice, calm beach
Calm Baby Beach
but we did not swim here. We walked to another area to watch the pounding surf again.
Rugged shore near baby beach
We will swim at MooMba Beach tomorrow.
This was a great tour and our tour guide Victor was very knowledgeable and nice. Visit him in Aruba at Tour Pelican adventures or www.pelican-aruba.com Let him guide you around this diverse island.
Touring Aruba, Zeb and Soapy Duck left the paved roads and headed toward Alto Vista Chapel. Approaching the chapel we spotted white crosses beside the road.
White crosses for Alto Vista Chapel in Aruba
These did not look like crosses honoring people who died in accidents along the roadway, and they are not. These crosses represent the Stations of the Cross. During Holy Week, the week before Easter, residents and tourists come here to live their religion and respect its meaning. The Alto Vista Chapel was rebuilt on the site of the first chapel. The original was built in 1750, abandoned in the 1800s and rebuilt about 200 years later. The original chapel was built before Aruba had a priest.
Alto Vista Chapel in Aruba
This yellow chapel is very peaceful, situated amid cacti and near the pounding Caribbean coast. The northern shore of Aruba has rocks, granite and lava and is shaped by the fierceness of the water. The Spanish cross of the Alto Vista Chapel is one of the oldest European works of art in Aruba. The small chapel, with its beautiful altar, has a loyal following of worshippers. We ducks thought the location was very serene.
Inside Alto Vista Chapel, Aruba
The humans were subdued and reverent here. We felt good at this chapel. Continuing on the dirt road we viewed something else. This was the Bushiribana Ruins.
Bushiribana Ruins
A 12-year-old boy found the first gold on the island in 1824. This started a gold frenzy in Aruba. For about 30 years local people found gold and sold it at a fixed price. A nice second source of income for them. In 1854 the gold mining concession went to Aruba Island Goldmining Company. A smelter was built and operated for 10 years.
From Bushiribana Ruins to the Caribbean
The gold ran out, the smelter ceased operation and is now in ruins. Our guide said that now we, ducks and tourists, are the gold of Aruba. We like our tour of Aruba. Next we are heading to the rugged north shore of Aruba. Pounding waves, here come the ducks.
Palm Beach and MooMba Beach had our attention most days. Our moms and we ducks love the beach. The sand here is so white and so soft. It is like walking in soft powdered sugar.
White sugar sand
There is so much to do here. We did not do it all, but we want to show some options.
Our favorite is to relax on a beach lounge chair and watch the water.
Just perfect
Moms did some reading on the beach also. Zeb and Soapy watched everything and everybody. Fascinating place!
This was a new beach activity to us.
Something new
As the day progressed, she seemed to get better and get higher out of the water. Earlier in the morning there was more falling. Maybe this is new and she is learning and will teach tourists in a few days.
Stand Up Paddle boarding was rather popular.
Stand Up Paddleboard
We talked to ladies from Long Beach, California and they paddleboard in California and love it. It is a great core workout.
Here is Great Big Mable. Sit here and a boat pulls you in the water.
Great Big Mable with Small Ducks
Looked fun and humans were laughing and sliding all over this chair. Also available were jet skis, the banana (pulled behind a boat), parasailing, and many boat trips. Many scuba and snorkeling trips are offered. Our moms did those when they were here before.
We found this slide.
We love slides
It was fun. We also saw these animals on the beach,
What a ride
near shopping and beach bars. This mask was cool.
Mask with ducks on ears
Later in the day, after the sun goes down, many humans gather here to play beach tennis.
Beach tennis
One evening we enjoyed dinner on this pier and watched the sunset.
Last night we enjoyed dinner here as the sun set
Later we listened to the band play. Zeb and Soapy really liked the cute lady singer. Our moms thought she was good also.
Palm Beach and MooMba beach have so many activities. If you like things quieter, perhaps Eagle Beach would be for you.
Beautiful Eagle Beach in Aruba
Some activities and beautiful white sugar sand with palm trees, but less people. We like them all.
I, Zeb the Duck and Soapy Duck are in Aruba with our moms for a week. This is so exciting for us. Zeb and Soapy have not visited a Caribbean island together before. This is a Mother, Daughter, Duck week. So much fun!
These parrots greeted us as we arrived at our condo.
Official greeters
They are friendly, loud and colorful. This tree is growing through a fence by one of our gates.
Perfect tree for ColoradoTraveling Ducks
Maybe just for us?? These people are going on a tour in Arikok National Park.
Heading for Arikok National Park
Guides say that these divi divi trees grow only in Aruba.
Ducks in a divi divi tree
Divi divi tree of Aruba with Zeb and Soapy in trunk
There are lots of familiar restaurants here
Hard Rock Cafe in Aruba
and some new ones.
For Gianni’s restaurant
Today we will eat on the beach at Gilligan’s.
Gilligan’s restaurant on the beach
Our moms told us about the old TV show Gilligan’s Island and his boat, the Minnow.
The Minnow
The food here is good and we love the water so close.
After eating we walked along the beach and then back to the street.
Gianni’s restaurant
We stopped at the mall and had beverages at this lounge.
The lights and entertainment were real nice.
So festive here
Seems so warm and tropical.
It was a long traveling day, but tomorrow we will experience more of Aruba. We might go the beach tomorrow. Moms say the white sand is great.
It’s Zeb the Duck here again. Mom and I went back to the Denver Zoo.
Zeb the Duck goes to the zoo
This time we visited Tropical Discovery. This building within the zoo has fish, snakes, frogs, lizards and the huge Komodo Dragons. It is warm inside, like a tropical forest, so it is perfect for those less than perfect days outside.
I like the frogs. Here is a Mexican Leaf Frog.
More information
Mexican Leaf Frog
These frogs only live in Mexico. The yellow banded dart frog lives in northeast South America.
The snakes were very colorful and not slimy. This McGregor’s Viper lived in the rainforest of the Philippine Islands.
Zoo information
McGregor’s Viper
Cobras have hoods on their heads and this suphan cobra thrives in the forests of Thailand.
Cobra information
Thailand’ Suphan Cobra
Be careful if you hike in the forest of West Africa. This green mamba lives there and is deadly.
Be careful around this snake
West African Green Mamba
Lion fish are graceful while swimming.
Lionfish
They appear to have fancy costumes that sway in the water; they are stunning fish.
Before leaving Tropical Discovery, we visited the Komodo dragons, lizards and crocodiles.
Komodo Dragon
The Komodo dragons often grow 10 feet long. When they are hungry, they are capable of killing and eating just about anything.
Tropical Discovery at the Denver Zoo is a fascinating place. I am glad the glass enclosures are strong. Visit www.denverzoo.org for more information.
It is crazy but we love Colorado. Earlier this week we were sitting outside eating ice cream and today we are inside drinking hot chocolate looking at the new snow.
This is what we saw when we got up Thursday morning.
Tree with spring snow
This snow is beautiful.
Spring snow on our bushes
These evergreen bushes are in our back yard.
Here are some trees with a new white coating of snow.
April morning with fresh snow
This golf course does not have golfers this morning, but they will be there soon..
Snow covered golf course
This is about 4 p.m. Thursday afternoon.
Not much snow this afternoon
The snow is almost completely gone. Some times we have all four seasons in a week or sometimes in a day. We love it here!
Eider and the humans left Las Vegas and arrived in Oatman, Arizona.
Eider and Cindy entering Oatman
This is an old west ghost mining town on the famous Route 66. Gold was discovered in 1863 and a large gold rush started in 1915.
Oatman
Now the population of Oatman, according to their post cards, is 150.
Oatman attracts tourists that travel Route 66. The turtle ranch has big turtles.
Turtle Ranch in Oatman, Arizona
Eider is on a post and
Large live turtle approaching building
there is a large turtle behind him heading for the building.
A main attraction is the group of wild burros that roam freely through town.
Burro patrol
Tourists often feed them carrots and burro chow, available in several stores.
Some tourist attractions include Wild West shootouts and on July 4 they cook eggs on the sidewalk, using some solar devices. This really is an old western town.
Oatman has several photo opportunities.
Oatman photo opportunity
There are also many signs
In Oatman
expressing the independent spirit
Be aware
of the early residents.
This souvenir store tries to capitalize on the wild burro residents.
Eider is riding a burro!
Oatman, Arizona is located in the
Black Mountains of Oatman, Arizona
Black Mountains of Arizona.
This is certainly a different type of town.
Street in Oatman
So glad you sent the pictures Eider. Thanks again for sharing with us.
My cousin, Eider Duck and the humans went downtown Las Vegas to Fremont Street.
Eider Duck with Cindy in Downtown Las Vegas
Cindy is holding Eider. This is a crazy place. This man is really human.
He stands like this on his cane for hours. WOW
He stays in this position, sitting on his cane for hours. He really looks like a statue.
The Fremont casino is big.
Eider with Cindy at Fremont Casino
Eider also visited the Golden Nugget.
Cindy and Eider near Golden Nugget.
They have real gold nuggets in a display case inside. Some are even from Eider’s state of Alaska.
The 4 Queens is real popular and has a nice hotel.
Eider and Cindy at 4 Queens
Binions Casino is pretty famous also.
Binions on Fremont Street
Do you notice the cover over the street? The canopy has lights in it. At night there are light shows on the hour. These are amazing. Here are a couple photos of the show, to give you an idea of what you will see when you visit Fremont Street at night.
Sound and light show on Fremont Street
More of the Fremont Experience.
The Fremont Experience
On the way back to their condo on the strip, or Las Vegas Boulevard, Eider saw the volcano at the Mirage Resort erupting.
The volcano erupting at the Mirage Resort
Las Vegas is quite a town. Thanks for sharing with us, Eider.
My Alaska cousin, Eider Duck was in Las Vegas, Nevada for Chinese New Years. These pictures from Eider and dad show some of the displays in a few resorts. The Venetian is a huge resort. Just look at this, even before entering the building.
Outside the Venetian. I see a gondola there.
This is the year of the horse, so lots of horses in Las Vegas displays this month. I can’t pick a favorite—I like them all. These are in the Palazzo,
Horse with coins and Eider inside the Palazzo
which is connected to the Venetian. Did you know that upon the completion and grand opening of the Palazzo on January 17, 2008, the Palazzo became the largest building in the United States? The Palazzo displaced the Pentagon as the largest building in the United States in terms of floor space. According to Wikipedia, the Palazzo has 6,948,980 square feet of floor space. WOW!!
Inside Palazzo
Now Eider and the humans have entered the Wynn Resort.
Inside Wynn Resort
More magnificent Year of the Horse displays.
Inside Wynn Resort
These photos from inside the Bellagio are great Eider.
Inside the Bellagio
Bellagio display for Year of the Horse
Happy Chinese New Year
The Bellagio has a wonderful outside water show.
Dancing fountains at the Bellagio with Eider Duck
Between the Mirage and Treasure Island, Eider seems to be in trouble. These statues honor Siegfried and Roy and their tigers. Eider, get out of the tiger’s mouth!!
Eider get out of there!!!
Looks like Eider is having a great time in Las Vegas.
Eider Duck…You lucky scoundrel.
More pictures from Eider to come.
Colorado Traveling Ducks 